Which All-in-One Multifunction Testers Deliver Real Value?
A 2025 deep dive for working sparks and trainees alike
Buying your first multifunction tester is up there with passing your nvq level 3 electrical portfolio or completing an electrician course: it feels like proof you’ve joined the trade for good. Yet students on our nvq level 3 electrical fast track route at Elec Training Birmingham admit the shelves of orange, blue, and yellow meters can look identical until you dig into the fine print. Below is an expanded guide—to help you balance price, performance, and long-term running costs before you tap the card.
1. Why price is usually a clue (but not the whole story)
Higher cost does not always mean better, but three facts hold true:
- Measurement tolerance narrows as you climb the range; a ±0.8 Ω loop reading versus ±1.9 Ω could decide whether a circuit passes at 1.04 Ω.
- Firmware flexibility—auto RCD sequences, EV-specific tests—arrive first in flagship models.
- After-sales support improves with premium brands; five-year warranties and same-week calibration reduce downtime.
Budget units still work; just check they cover the tests you’ll meet once you move from apprentice to full inspector.
2. Six testers put under the microscope
Model | Street price (ex-VAT) | Loop accuracy* | Built-in extras | Ideal user |
Megger MFT1741+ | £720–£860 | ±0.8 % + 0.02 Ω | Two-wire no-trip loop, EV auto-sequence | Domestic & EICR all-rounder |
Megger MFT1720 | £600–£810 | ±1 % + 0.05 Ω | Phase rotation, auto RCD | Starter meter with room to grow |
Fluke 1664 FC | £780–£950 | ±0.8 % + 0.02 Ω | Pre-test insulation warning, Wi-Fi results sync | Data-heavy commercial work |
Fluke 1653B | £600–£900 | ±1 % + 0.05 Ω | Variable RCD currents | Solid choice for NVQ evidence |
Kewtech KT63 DL | £440–£520 | ±1.5 % + 0.05 Ω | 16 RCD curves, back-lit screen | Budget domestic installer |
Seaward Powertest 1557 | £355–£480 | ±2 % + 0.05 Ω | Five-second loop, probe logging | Entry level; light and compact |
Model | Street price (ex-VAT) | Loop accuracy* | Built-in extras | Ideal user |
Megger MFT1741+ | £720–£860 | ±0.8 % + 0.02 Ω | Two-wire no-trip loop, EV auto-sequence | Domestic & EICR all-rounder |
Megger MFT1720 | £600–£810 | ±1 % + 0.05 Ω | Phase rotation, auto RCD | Starter meter with room to grow |
Fluke 1664 FC | £780–£950 | ±0.8 % + 0.02 Ω | Pre-test insulation warning, Wi-Fi results sync | Data-heavy commercial work |
Fluke 1653B | £600–£900 | ±1 % + 0.05 Ω | Variable RCD currents | Solid choice for NVQ evidence |
Kewtech KT63 DL | £440–£520 | ±1.5 % + 0.05 Ω | 16 RCD curves, back-lit screen | Budget domestic installer |
Seaward Powertest 1557 | £355–£480 | ±2 % + 0.05 Ω | Five-second loop, probe logging | Entry level; light and compact |
*Loop specs quoted at 0.5 Ω; check manufacturer sheets for full graph.
3. Feature breakdown you should really care about
- True two-wire non-trip loop
Essential when the supply neutral is sealed. Only the Megger 1741+ and Fluke 1664 offer it standard. - EV-ready RCD testing
BS 7671 now pushes Type B RCDs on many chargers; only the newest testers include 6 mA DC ramp. - Auto sequence
Saves minutes per circuit when running ½ I – I – 5 I RCD sweeps. If you plan large EICRs, buy this once, use it daily. - Data capture
Bluetooth or Wi-Fi upload cuts clipboard errors; Fluke’s 1664 FC syncs straight to their cloud app for certificates. - Size and weight
A 1.3 kg meter feels fine on the floor but painful hanging from a loft beam. The Kewtech and Seaward win here.
4. Matching tester to typical work scenarios
Scenario | Critical functions | Recommended model |
Domestic rewires | Non-trip loop, auto RCD, phase rotation | Megger MFT1720 |
EICR on Victorian terraces | Two-wire loop, data logging, back-up battery | Fluke 1664 FC |
EV charger installs | 6 mA DC RCD test, PEN-fault sim, type-B ramp | Megger MFT1741+ |
School maintenance | Auto sequence, Wi-Fi upload, pass/fail LEDs | Fluke 1664 FC |
Portfolio for NVQ sign-off | Insulation, continuity, simple UI | Seaward 1557 (budget) or KT63 DL |
5. Life-cycle cost versus sticker shock
- Calibration: premium brands often include first-year calibration; budget ones charge £90.
- Probe leads: Megger and Fluke supply silicone leads that survive heat; cheaper PVC leads can crack after six months tucked in a van side shelf.
- Firmware: Fluke pushes updates over Wi-Fi; Megger requires USB. Free firmware saves future upgrade fees for new RCD types.
When we teach electrician training business modules, we run a TCO (total cost of ownership) calculator; many learners move from the £400 shortlist to a £650 mid-range unit once they see the five-year numbers.
6. Maintenance habits that protect your investment
- Monthly insulation check – test the tester with a known 1 MΩ resistor; drift means service soon.
- Lead continuity test – meter on Ω; wiggle both ends; any flicker signals internal strand break.
- Rubber boot clean – dust under the holster traps moisture.
- Firmware reminder – add it to your PAT schedule; missed updates sometimes void warranty.
Simple, but we still see meters fail AM2 because a learner forgot a quick resistance check; that’s an expensive resit day.
Buying checklist before leaving the wholesaler
- Pick up a GS38 probe set; many meters don’t include it.
- Open the box; verify calibration cert is dated within 12 months.
- Register warranty online that same evening.
- Label the case with phone number; meters walk on busy sites.
The best multifunction tester is the one that meets tomorrow’s regs as well as today’s job. If you plan to climb from trainee through inspection work, pay once for features you will grow into. Come to Elec Training Birmingham; try each unit on our training boards, decide which fits your hand and your business plan, then hit the field confident your readings will stand up in court or at an AM2 resit.
